REL 306 WOMEN AND RELIGIONS Spring 1995 Professor Carole Myscofski myscofsk@titan.iwu.edu Religion Department, Illinois Wesleyan University The subject of womenÕs roles in religions has been carefully ignored by scholars and students of religions until very recently. In the past, those studying religions assumed that the male perspective was equivalent to the generic or ÒnormÓ for religion, and relegated womenÕs religious experiences to the ÒotherÓ or ÒabnormalÓ category--rarely considered, or present only as footnotes. In this course, we will restudy and rediscover the wealth of religious activity which has been and is the sphere of womenÑtheir own and not lesser. InstructorÕs Course Objectives: (1) to discover womenÕs religious lives, activities, and purposes, and (2) to challenge common misunderstandings about women and their religions. StudentÕs Course Objectives: Requirements 1. Preparation for class will be expected of all. The instructor will be prepared to lead discussion and provide background information; each student will have read the assigned text and will be ready to discuss the issues raised therein. All readings are to be completed for the class at which they are listed. 2. Attendance of all classes is expected and roll will be taken. Excessive absences [over 5] will result in diminished final grade. Participation in class discussions is a necessary component of attendance. 3. Because of the nature of this class, inclusive and nonsexist language will be expected in discussions and writings. 4. Students, in groups of 2 or 3, will conduct one class discussion each during the semester. Discussion leaders will be expected to raise the central issues of the assigned reading through the interactive participation of the whole class. The efforts of each leader and the success of the whole will be graded, and that grade will be 15% of the total credit. See Hand-out for additional advice. 5. 4 short papers will be assigned through the semester. The first and fourth papers will be worth 15%; the remaining 2 will be 20% each: 70% of the total grade. Late papers are accepted, but will be penalized per day late. 6. The final examination will cover material from the semesterÕs readings, and will count as 15% of the grade. The final may be replaced by attendance at a specified number of academic and cultural events concerning women and/or women and religion; a short written report will confirm attendance. A list of possible events will be announced in class periodically; student suggestions must be submitted in advance of events. Grade will be based on number of events attended: 5 events=C [75-78]; 6 events=B [85-88]; 7 events=A [95-100]; range in grade will be determined by quality of written report. REQUIRED TEXTS Marjorie Shostak, Nisa Sara Mitter, DharmaÕs Daughters Laurel Kendall, The Life and Hard Times of a Korean Shaman Barbara MacHaffie, Her Story Bouthaina Shaaban, Both Right and Left Handed Gloria Anzaldœa, Borderlands/La Frontera FEMINIST: I myself have never been able to find precisely what feminism is. I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat. --Rebecca West, 1913. Schedule February 7 Introduction to the course: the study of religion and feminism. 9 Distinguishing language and intent. Readings: ÒGender Stereotyping;Ó and Nisa, Introduction, Chapters 1-3. 14 Women in indigenous communities. Readings: Nisa, Chapters 4-7. Paper one assigned. 16 African women and religions. Readings: Nisa, Chapters 8-12. Discussion leaders: 21 African women and religions. Readings: Nisa, Chapters 13-15 and Epilogue. Film: ÒN/um Tchai.Ó 23 Women in Asia. Readings: DharmaÕs Daughters, Introduction, Chs. 1-2. Film: ÒHinduism.Ó Paper 1 due. 28 Women in Hindu traditions. Readings: DharmaÕs Daughters, Chs. 3- 6. March 2 Women in Hindu traditions. Readings: DharmaÕs Daughters, Chs. 7-8. Discussion leaders: 7 Women in Hindu traditions. Readings: DharmaÕs Daughters, Chs. 9- 11. Film: ÒNo Longer Silent.Ó 9 Women in Hindu traditions. Readings: DharmaÕs Daughters, Ch. 12- end. Discussion leaders: 14 Women in Korea. Readings: Life and Hard Times, Ch. One. Paper 2 assigned. 16 Women in Korea. Readings: Life and Hard Times, Chs. Two-Three. Discussion leaders: 21 Women in Korea. Readings: Life and Hard Times, Ch. Four. Film: ÒAn Initiation Kut.Ó Discussion leaders: 23 Women in Korea. Readings: Life and Hard Times, Ch. Five-end. April 4 Women in the Eurasian traditions. Readings: Her Story, Introduction & Ch. 1. Paper 2 due. 6 Women in Christianity. Readings: Her Story, Ch. 2. Discussion leaders: 11 Women in Christianity. Readings: Her Story, Chs. 3-4. Film: ÒBurning Times.Ó 13 Women in Christianity. Readings: Her Story, Chs. 5-7. Discussion leaders: 18 Women in Christianity. Readings: Her Story, Chs. 8-10. Discussion leaders: 20 Women in Islam. Readings: Both Right and Left Handed, Ch. 1. Film: ÒFive Pillars of Islam.Ó 25 Women in Islam. Readings: Both Right and Left Handed, Ch. 2. Paper 3 assigned. Discussion leaders: 27 Women in Islam. Readings: Both Right and Left Handed, Ch. 3-4. Film: ÒA Veiled Revolution.Ó May 2 Women in the Americas. Readings: Borderlands/La Frontera, 1-2 and pp. 194-5. Paper 3 due. 4 Women in the Americas. Readings: Borderlands/La Frontera, 3-4 and I. Paper 4 assigned. Discussion leaders: 9 Women in the Americas. Readings: Borderlands/La Frontera, 5-6 and II-III. Discussion leaders: 11 Women in the Americas. Readings: Borderlands/La Frontera, 7 and IV. Monday May 15 1:15-2:15 Discussion and review. Paper 4 due. Take-home final due (if needed).